Rose plant -- Meidalnu variety

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Hybrid Tea rose plant is provided which abundantly forms attractive fully double blossoms which are light Rose Bengal suffused with light Cherry Red in coloration. The plant exhibits a upright growth habit, forms vigorous vegation, and is well suited for cut flower production under greenhouse conditions. An excellent capacity to be forced in the greenhouse is exhibited. Additionally, the plant is not particularly affected by cryptogamic diseases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Hybrid Tea rose plant was created by artificialpollination wherein two parents were crossed which previously had beenstudied in the hope that they would contribute the desiredcharacteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) of the newvariety was the Bridal Pink variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,851). Themale parent (i.e., the pollen parent) was the Royalty variety (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 4,057). The parentage of the new variety can besummarized as follows:

    Bridal Pink×Royalty.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and 11 smallplants were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of asingle plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new variety of Hybrid Tea rose plant of thepresent invention possesses the following combination ofcharacteristics:

(a) forms in abundance attractive long lasting fully double blossomshaving an elegant configuration when opening in a vase which are lightRose Bengal suffused with light Cherry Red,

(b) exhibits vigorous vegetation,

(c) exhibits an upright growth habit,

(d) is particularly suited for cut flower production and exhibits anexcellent capacity to be forced in a greenhouse, and

(e) is not particularly affected by cryptogamic diseases.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry andis particularly well suited for use as in the production of distinctivecut flowers.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation in Franceand in the United States by a number of routes, including budding,grafting, cuttage, etc. The characteristics of the new variety have beenfound to be strictly transmissible by such asexual propagation from onegeneration to another.

The new variety has been named the Meidalnu variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same, in a color illustration of this character,typical specimens of the plant parts of the new variety. The rose plantsof the new variety were one year of age and were observed during Octoberwhile budded on Rosa indica understock and growing in greenhouses at Capd'Antibes, France.

FIG. 1 illustrates a specimen of a young shoot;

FIG. 2 illustrates a specimen of a floral bud before the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 3 illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 4 illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thepetals;

FIG. 5 illustrates a specimen of a flower in the course of opening;

FIG. 6 illustrates a specimen of an open flower -- plan view -- obverse;

FIG. 7 illustrates a specimen of an open flower -- plan view -- reverse;

FIG. 8 illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower -- plan view --obverse;

FIG. 9 illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower -- plan view --reverse;

FIG. 10 illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the stamens and pistils;

FIG. 11 illustrates a specimen of a floral receptable showing thearrangement of the pistils (stamens removed);

FIG. 12 illustrates a specimen of a flowering stem;

FIG. 13 illustrates a specimen of a main branch;

FIG. 14 illustrates specimens of leaves with three leaflets -- plan view-- upper surface (right) and lower surface (left);

FIG. 15 illustrates a specimen of a leaf with five leaflets -- plan view-- lower surface; and

FIG. 16 illustrates a specimen of a leaf with seven leaflets -- planview -- upper surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). The description is based onthe observation of one year old plants made during October while buddedon Rosa indica understock and growing in greenhouses at Cap d' Antibes,France. The coloration in common terms precedes reference to the chart.

Class: Hybrid Tea.

Plant:

Height.--When the plants are cut to a height of 85 cm., flowering stemsare produced having a length of approximately 40 to 70 cm. When grownoutdoors at Wasco, Calif., the plants commonly reach a height ofapproximately 120 cm. at the end of one growing season.

Habit.--Upright.

Branches:

Color.--Young stems: medium green, Green Group 143A. Adult wood: mediumgreen, Green Group 143B.

Thorns.--Size: medium. Quantity: average. Color: greenish on young stemsand greenish changing to tan on mature wood.

Leaves:

Stipules.--Adnate, pectinate, wide and linear.

Petioles.--Upper surface: striped reddish brown on young foliage andmedium green on adult foliage with glandular edges. Under surface: lightgreen, and bears numerous prickles.

Leaflets.--Number: 3, 5 (most often), and 7. Shape: oval to rounded.Serration: single and regular. Texture: leathery. General appearance:dense, bright foliage. Color (young foliage): Upper surface: mediumgreen, Green Group 143A, more or less stained with reddish coloration.Under surface: light green, Green Group 143C, more or less stained withreddish coloration. Color (adult foliage): Upper surface: medium green,Green Group 137B. Under surface: light green, Green Group 137C.

Inflorescence:

Number of flowers.--Usually one single bloom per stem.

Peduncle.--Light green and bears numerous prickles and glandularacicules. The length is approximately 10 to 11 cm. on average.

Sepals.--Upper surface: tomentose, greenish in coloration. Undersurface: light green and the outer sepals have only slightlyappenduculated edges.

Buds.--Shape: conical. Length: approximately 3 cm. on average. Size:medium. Color upon opening: Upper surface: light Rose Bengal, Red-PurpleGroup 57C, and more or less suffused with light Cherry Red, Red Group45C. Under surface: light Rose Bengal, Red-Purple Group 57D, and more orless suffused with light Cherry Red, Red Group 45C.

Flower.--Shape: cup-like with parallel sides and fully double. Diameter:approximately 8 to 10 cm. on average. Color (when opening begins): Uppersurface: light Rose Bengal, Red-Purple Group 57C, more or less suffusedwith light Cherry Red, Red Group 45C. Under surface: light Rose Bengal,Red-Purple Group 57D, more or less suffused with light Cherry Red, RedGroup 45C. Color (when blooming): Upper surface: light Rose Bengal,Red-Purple Group 57C, more or less suffused with light Cherry Red, RedGroup 45C. Under surface: light Rose Bengal, Red-Purple Group 57D, moreor less suffused with light Cherry Red, Red Group 45C. Color (at end ofopening): Upper surface: light Rose Bengal, Red-Purple Group 57C, moreor less suffused with light Cherry Red, Red Group 45C. Under surface:light Rose Bengal, Red-Purple Group 57D, more or less suffused withlight Cherry Red, Red Group 45C. Fragrance: none. Lasting quality:average. Petal number: approximately 25 to 26 on average. Petal shape:rounded to oval with reflective lateral sides. Texture: consistent.Petal drop: good. Stamen number: approximately 191 on average. Anthers:yellowish in coloration. Filaments: irregular in height, and darkfuschia in coloration. Pistils: approximately 135 on average. Stigmas:ochre colored. Styles: fuschia in coloration, and very tomentose atbase. Receptacle: light green in coloration, smooth, and in longitudinalsection at the dehiscence of the anthers it is in the shape of apitcher.

Development:

Vegetation.--Vigorous.

Blooming.--Abundant.

Resistance to diseases.--Good.

Aptitude to be forced.--Excellent.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Hybrid Tea rose plantcharacterized by the following combination of characteritics:(a) formsin abundance attractive long lasting fully double blossoms having anelegant configuration when opening in a vase which are light Rose Bengalsuffused with light Cherry Red, (b) exhibits vigorous vegetation, (c)exhibits an upright growth habit, (d) is particularly suited for cutflower production and exhibits an excellent capacity to be forced in agreenhouse, and (e) is not particularly affected by cryptogamicdiseases;substantially as herein shown and described.